Sunday, 30 January 2011

Political Policing?

This is a photograph of a peaceful protestor that was pepper sprayed by Police outside Boots in Oxford Street today as part of the #ukuncut protest targeting Boots and other corporate giants that avoid paying UK Corporate taxes.

#Ukuncut issued the following press release:

UK Uncut is issuing a statement condemning the use of pepper spray by police on a peaceful UK Uncut protest on Oxford Street this afternoon.

Before 15:00 outside Boots on Oxford Street a female activist tried to push a leaflet through the closed door of Boots explaining the details of Boots' tax avoidance to the staff.

A police officer then arrested the individual for "criminal damage". Around 20 people tried to help the female being arrested and 10 were subsequently pepper sprayed. Three people have been taken to hospital.

Anna Williams who saw the incident said "I condemn the violent behaviour of the police who have attacked a peaceful protest against tax avoidance, with three people being taken away in an ambulance."

she continued, "This is yet another example of political policing that is about protecting corporate interests and not those of ordinary people. We will not however be intimidated off the streets! We have a right to protest when the government are making unnecessary cuts that will hit the poorest in our society the hardest."

Boots staff said via a twitter group (BootsMealDeal), "We at Boots are disgusted by Police behaviour today."

As always we can rely on the Metropolitan Police to screw up, it probably wouldn't have happened in any of the other Police forces.

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